Now that the ground is the wonderful muddy brown + green, the skies aren't so steely grey any more, and there seems to be (mostly) sun and above freezing temperatures for the next five days, it feels safe to share the pictures I snagged clomping around in the snow last week.

This little field of Blue Spruce are former Christmas trees; we buy them bulb-on and replant them in the yard. I think the taller ones on the right side may be older than I am...

I'm not a fan of winter, but snow days are an exception. The quality of light and sound are totally changed. Daylight is soft and diffused, and blurred from the snowfall. Sounds are muffled, but when the wind isn't blowing they seem sharper and closer.

The presence of animals is so much more obvious; anything that isn't white sticks out like a sore thumb, and prints and tracks can be seen in the fresh powder.

Cheddar pops right off the white snow with her rusty brown fur.

Our chickens + roosters don't particularly enjoy cold weather, and snow even less. They stick to the coop, cozy with their heat lamp.

Kuhmo looks like a polar bear on most days, but goes in to full-fledged tundra sprinting ursal form on snow days.

He also mows down snow like it's fluffy white bacon falling from the sky. Maybe I'm partial, but he's pretty adorable.

A chilly romp around deserves a tasty brunch : kale, toasted pinenuts, carmelized onions and fried eggs will do. I'm trying to up + vary my green intake this year and this certainly does the trick. Hope everyone is staying warm and happy! xo -mj